[stylist] Representing blindness

[Lynda Lambert]

Yes, Bridget, it is all about personal taste and style.
When my children were small I was always in jeans and tops, too, that were 
comfortable. I've always worked out at a gym, all my life, so I would often 
be dressed in gym clothes - still do that. Our mornings begin before 
daylight, at the gym. But even there, I come in with make-up and matching 
clothing. That is just my personal preference; I feel good when I know I 
look good.

In my professional life, I love to "dress" up and when you are lecturing to 
an audience in the classroom, you have to be on your game.  The students 
expect it and they look forward to it.  They actually make comments to us on 
jewelry, clothing, shoes, etc.
 I worked at a private college for priviledged students and it is not 
anything like the way a person might dress for a public school environment. 
Profs in the English Department were all fashion foreward  women.

When I worked in California at a college, it was very different. One 
engineering professor even taught in her bare feet.  It's very interesting 
how where we live influences how we look, too. There, it was very casual for 
students and profs and staff - but here on the east coast it is much less 
casual in the same situations. We are far less easy-going that what I 
experienced there.

I have always loved fashion since a  young teenager - always had 
subscriptions to the high-end fashion magazines and was always  aware of 
trends. I am still like that because that is something I love.  I have 
Neiman Marcus taste.  I used to work for that company, and it was so 
exciting when I could give everyone on my Christmas gift list a Neiman 
Marcus Christmas.

My great granddaughter is 15 years old, and she has just signed a contract 
with a major modeling agency. We are all thrilled for her and so excited 
that her dream is beginning to reveal itself. She first spoke of modeling 
and going to Paris when she was only 2 or 3 years old.  Fashion is something 
that, in our family, we all discuss and enjoy.  Even after major sight loss, 
it is still something I just love.

Lynda





----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bridgit Pollpeter" <bpollpeter at hotmail.com>
To: <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, February 12, 2013 11:16 AM
Subject: [stylist] Representing blindness


> Donna,
>
> I agree with you. Our personal sense of fashion and preference shouldn't
> always be a reflection on our blindness. Yes I love fashion and make-up,
> but I don't walk around looking like a fashion-ista every day. You
> parents can appreciate this. Most days I'm in my yoga clothes since
> Declan and I hang out at home a lot. People might think, "Oh, that blind
> lady doesn't know about fashion or care," but I'm just trying to be
> comfortable for my particular situation. When I leave the house, I will
> dress a little differently. When my sighted parent friends dress this
> way, people just think, "Oh, they have little children." Annoying.
>
> Bridgit
> Message: 22
> Date: Mon, 11 Feb 2013 21:55:47 -0500
> From: "Donna Hill" <penatwork at epix.net>
> To: "'Writer's Division Mailing List'" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
> Subject: Re: [stylist] To ponder- exercise and representing blindness
> Message-ID: <EED51D86EFC047148078ADB915BA754B at OwnerHP>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> Bridgit,
> I think that one reason we get this business about representing blind
> people
> is because of how very few of us there really are. Lynda pointed out
> that
> she's the only blind person most of the people in her life have ever
> known.
> I think that's true for many of us. I don't like having that
> responsibility
> thrust upon my shoulders either. It makes me feel like I must be from
> another planet.
>
> I think, though, that whether we see ourselves in that role or not, we
> are
> representing blindness to an ignorant and pathetic world. We can't get
> away
> from it; it's just the way things are. Nevertheless, your attitude is
> the
> right one. Just do whatever you want to do for you.
>
> For me, one of the things that gauls me -- and it falls under the
> heading of
> the mantel of responsibility of representing ourselves to the sighted
> world
> -- is the dress code thing. I would be embarrassed to come to a national
> NFB
> convention without a serious shopping trip. I'm not into fashion; unlike
> you, I don't like or want to wear make-up. I'm usually in jeans  with
> flannel shirts for the cold weather and short-sleeved cotton shirts in
> the
> summer. If I have to go somewhere special -- and we don't seek out
> places
> where people dress up, because they also wear perfume which we're
> allergic
> too -- then I do have a few "nice" things in my closet. I don't feel all
> that comfortable in them though.
> Donna
>
>
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